U.S. patent number 5,454,658 [Application Number 08/124,216] was granted by the patent office on 1995-10-03 for rear end knocking type liquid discharge apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pentel Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Naoki Kato.
United States Patent |
5,454,658 |
Kato |
October 3, 1995 |
Rear end knocking type liquid discharge apparatus
Abstract
A liquid discharge apparatus has a tubular casing having an
applicator at one end and an actuator button with a pressing
portion at the other end. A thin wall resilient portion is
integrally connected between the tubular casing and the pressing
portion so that the pressing portion can be moved axially within
the tubular casing. The tubular casing has a liquid chamber
therewithin between the actuator button and the applicator tip, and
a valve is provided having a valve body connected to the actuator
button so that the valve body is movable by actuation of the
actuator button. A liquid storage chamber having a recess at a rear
end receives the valve body therein, the storage member being
connected to a rear end of the applicator tip. A liquid discharge
restriction chamber has a tube portion fitted into the recess of
the liquid storage member and the tube portion has a valve seat
which is resiliently engageable by the valve body.
Inventors: |
Kato; Naoki (Ishioka,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Pentel Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
26343928 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/124,216 |
Filed: |
September 21, 1993 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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917105 |
Aug 5, 1992 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/205; 401/278;
401/279 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D
34/042 (20130101); A46B 11/0013 (20130101); A46B
11/0079 (20130101); B43K 5/1845 (20130101); B43K
8/003 (20130101); B43K 8/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A46B
11/00 (20060101); A45D 34/04 (20060101); B43K
5/00 (20060101); B43K 8/00 (20060101); B43K
8/02 (20060101); B43K 5/18 (20060101); B43K
008/04 (); A46B 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;401/205,278,153,279 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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168197 |
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Apr 1951 |
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AT |
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2637856 |
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Mar 1978 |
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DE |
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3625418 |
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Feb 1988 |
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DE |
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016302 |
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Apr 1981 |
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JP |
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121581 |
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Jul 1982 |
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JP |
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055114 |
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Nov 1982 |
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JP |
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169385 |
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Nov 1989 |
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JP |
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WO9213646 |
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Aug 1992 |
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JP |
|
2193881 |
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Feb 1988 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Bratlie; Steven A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/917,105
filed Aug. 5, 1992 now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
a tubular casing having a front end and a rear end;
an applicator tip mounted in said front end of said tubular casing,
said applicator tip having a front end and a rear end;
an actuator button mounted to said rear end of said tubular casing,
said actuator button having a pressing portion;
a thin wall resilient portion integrally connecting said tubular
casing and said pressing portion so that said pressing portion is
axially movable in said tubular casing;
a liquid storage member mounted in said tubular casing and having a
front end and a rear end, said front end of said liquid storage
member being connected with and in fluid communication with said
rear end of said applicator tip, said rear end of said liquid
storage member having a recess formed therein, and said liquid
storage member comprising a porous material;
a valve including a valve body connected to said actuator button,
said valve body being movably mounted in said recess formed in said
rear end of said liquid storage member;
a liquid discharge restriction chamber having a tube portion fitted
in said recess formed in said rear end of said liquid storage
member, said tube portion having a valve seat engageable by said
valve body; and
a liquid chamber defined in said tubular casing between said
actuator button and said applicator tip.
2. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein
said porous material of said liquid storage member has a capillary
attraction smaller than that of said applicator tip.
3. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein
said porous material of said liquid storage member has a capillary
attraction smaller than that of said applicator tip such that said
liquid storage member comprises a means for delivering liquid from
said liquid chamber to said applicator tip before said porous
material of said liquid storage member is entirely filled and, when
excessive liquid is supplied to said applicator tip, for storing
the excessive liquid in said porous material.
4. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein
said actuator button comprises a means for moving said valve
body.
5. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein
said actuator button further comprises a means for pressurizing
liquid in said liquid chamber and forcing the liquid through said
valve and into said liquid storage member.
6. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein
said actuator button comprises a means for pressurizing liquid in
said liquid chamber and forcing the liquid through said valve and
into said liquid storage member.
7. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 1, further
comprising
a spring biasing said valve body toward said valve seat.
8. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein
said liquid storage member further has a recess formed in said
front end thereof, said rear end of said applicator tip being
mounted in said recess formed in said front end of said liquid
storage member; and
said recess formed in said front end of said liquid storage member
is shallower than said recess formed in said rear end of said
liquid storage member.
9. A liquid discharge apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein
said liquid storage member is mounted between said liquid chamber
and said applicator tip.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid applicator for a writing
liquid, such as India ink, paint and ink, and a cosmetic liquid,
such as eyeliner and lip color, and more particularly to a
discharge apparatus of a rear end knocking type having a valve
device between an applicator tip at a front end, such as a pen
point and a liquid container storing a liquid directly and adapted
to be knocked or to receive a pressure at the rear end portion of a
tubular casing to open the valve device and supply the liquid to
the applicator tip.
The conventional rear end knocking type liquid discharge apparatus
having a valve device between an applicator tip and a liquid
container storing a liquid directly and adapted to be knocked at
the rear end portion of a tubular casing to open the valve device
and supply the liquid to the applicator tip includes a liquid
discharge apparatus having expansible bellows in a liquid storage
chamber and a valve rod extending to the bottom surface of the
liquid storage chamber, the valve being opened by pressing the rear
end of the liquid storage chamber, as disclosed in Japanese Utility
Model Publication No. 57-55114/1982. In the rear end knocking type
liquid discharge apparatus, a movement of the liquid occurs
suddenly, so that the liquid is liable to leak and spurt from the
applicator tip.
There is also a known apparatus for preventing such leakage of
liquid, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No.
56-16302/1981. This publication shows an ink regulator for marking
pens having an open ended main tubular casing portion to which a
pen point or nib is fixed firmly. An ink tube is inserted slidably
in the main tubular casing. A valve seat is fixed on an open
portion of the ink tube, and a valve rod of a valve body is
inserted slidably through a valve port made in the valve seat. An
upper plate is joined at an end portion thereof to the valve port
and engaged at the end portion thereof to the inner surface of the
main tubular casing, and a spring is provided between the inner
surface of the upper plate and the valve seat. In the liquid
discharge apparatus of this structure, a liquid (marking ink) is
discharged from the valve port into an ink reservoir defined by the
valve seat and the upper plate, and absorbed into an ink absorber
through an ink hole made in the upper plate, and the ink is then
supplied gradually to the tip of the pen point owing to the
capillary force of the pen point.
However, in the type of a liquid discharge apparatus in which a
liquid is supplied to an applicator tip after it has once passed
through a liquid absorber as in the above-described liquid
discharge apparatus, it takes a long time before the liquid is
supplied to the applicator tip in an initial period of time of use
of the apparatus, so that the apparatus cannot be used immediately.
When the rear end of a tubular casing is knocked, in spite of the
presence of the liquid in the applicator tip and liquid absorber
during the use of the apparatus, leakage of the liquid occurs.
Moreover, in order to make the bellows provided at the rear end of
the ink storage chamber expansible, it is necessary that the
bellows be formed with an elastic web so as to reduce the thickness
thereof. Consequently, the liquid in the storage chamber is easily
passed in a gaseous state through the elastic web. Due to this
passage of the liquid through the web, the viscosity of the liquid
increases, and the rate of discharge of the liquid from the
applicator tip decreases. This causes blurred writing and sometimes
the writing of marks becomes impossible. Especially, when such a
liquid discharge apparatus is sold to a consumer a long period of
time after it is manufactured, the quantity of the liquid in the
apparatus due to the outward permeation thereof through the elastic
web decreases, so that, when the consumer first uses the apparatus,
the user finds marks written therewith blurred, or finds the
apparatus impossible to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge
apparatus capable of supplying a liquid to an applicator tip for a
short period of time at the beginning of the use of the
apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new liquid
discharge apparatus which can prevent the outward permeation of a
liquid through the bellows and which avoids formation of blurred
written marks or failure of operation due to a decrease of the
quantity of liquid in the apparatus due to the outward permeation
of the liquid, at least when a consumer first uses the
apparatus.
According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid
discharge apparatus comprising a tubular casing having a liquid
chamber in the interior thereof, an applicator tip fixed to one end
of the tubular casing, and a valve means provided between the
applicator tip and the liquid chamber. In the valve means, a valve
is formed with a valve body and a valve seat pressure-engaged with
each other, and the valve means is opened by knocking a pressing
portion at the rear end of the tubular casing so that a liquid is
supplied to the applicator tip. A liquid discharge rate restricting
chamber means is provided in front of the valve means, and an open
end of a liquid flow passage connected to the discharge rate
restricting chamber is positioned in the vicinity of the front
portion of a liquid storage member provided at the back of the
applicator tip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a liquid discharge
apparatus embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support member constituting a
liquid discharge rate restricting chamber in a preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support member according to
another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along the
line 5--5 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a rod member and a
central bore for receiving the rod member shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is, similar to FIG. 6, an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
rod member and a central bore according to another embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 8 is, similar to FIG. 6, an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
rod member and a central bore according to a further embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of a modified example of a front
portion of the liquid discharge apparatus according to the present
invention;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a front portion of the
discharge apparatus according to another embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 11, similar to FIG. 10, is a longitudinal sectional view of
the apparatus according to a further embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 12, similar to FIG. 10, is a longitudinal sectional view of
the apparatus according to a still further embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 13, similar to FIG. 10, is a longitudinal sectional view of
the apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention;
and
FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another
embodiment of the invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a liquid discharge
apparatus of the present invention has an applicator tip 1, a
liquid storage member 2, a valve body 3, a valve seat 4, and a
liquid chamber 5. The applicator tip 1 is inserted and firmly set
in a front end opening of a front tubular casing portion 6 having a
smaller diameter at the front end portion thereof and a larger
diameter at the rear portion thereof, and the rear portion of the
applicator tip 1 is disposed in a central bore in the liquid
storage member 2 which is composed of cotton or other desired
porous material with a capillary force smaller than that of the
applicator tip 1. At the back of the liquid storage member 2, a
support member 7 having a seat for a resilient member 8 and having
a liquid discharge rate restricting member is provided. The support
member 7 has a cylindrical body with a flanged bottom and having a
substantially inverted U-shaped longitudinal section as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3. The support member 7 is directed toward the liquid
storage member 2 and brought into contact with the stepped portion
of ribs 6a in the front tubular casing portion 6. The open portion
of the support member 7 is directed toward the valve, and the
larger-diameter portion at the rear of the support member 7 is
fitted in the inner surface of the front tubular casing portion 6,
i.e., disposed in the front tubular casing portion 6.
The circumferential wall of the support member 7 is provided at the
opposite portions thereof with slits 7a so that the slits extend
vertically, and liquid guide members 7b are joined to the support
member at the slits 7a. These slits 7a and liquid guide members 7b
may be provided in four positions so that they extend in crosswise
directions as shown in FIG. 4. Since a liquid flows from four sides
toward the applicator tip 1 in this case, the liquid is supplied
more uniformly. The valve body 3 is urged rearward by the resilient
member 8 provided in the support member 7, and engaged with the
valve seat 4 to form a valve means.
The valve body 3 has a larger diameter portion at the front side
thereof so that it can be moved slidingly in the support member 7,
whereby the occurrence of deflection of the valve body 3 is
prevented when the valve means is opened and closed. The valve body
3 is further provided at its rear portion thereof with a recess in
which the front end portion of a rod member 9 which will be
described presently can be fitted, and this also serves to prevent
the occurrence of deflection of the valve body 3. In this
embodiment, these two structures are used to prevent the occurrence
of deflection of the valve body 3 but, even when only one or the
other of the structures is employed, an excellent effect is also
obtained.
At the back of the valve body 3, a rod member 9 is connected to the
larger-diameter portion of the front tubular casing portion 6 and
extends through the interior of a rear tubular casing portion 10
having a liquid storage portion 5 therein. This rear tubular casing
portion 10 is provided in its inner surface with a plurality of
lengthwise extending grooves 10a so that the residual quantity of
the liquid can be ascertained easily. The front end of the rod
member 9 is positioned in the vicinity of the rear portion of the
valve body 3, and the rear portion of the rod member 9 is passed
through a central bore 12 in a partition 11 in the rear tubular
casing portion 10 with a clearance formed between the rear portion
and bore 12. The rear portion of the rod member 9 is fastened to
the rear end of an elastic web 13 in the shape of an expansible
bellows portion. The clearance between the rod member 9 and central
bore 12 may be formed by utilizing a difference between the
diameters thereof, and, in order to produce an effect of preventing
the deflection of the rod member 9, it is preferable to form a
plurality of lengthwise extending ribs 14 on the inner surface of
the central bore 12 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or form one of the
rod member 9 and central bore 12 in a cross-sectionally circular
shape and the other in a cross-sectionally square shape and then
combine them with each other as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Even when
lengthwise extending projections are provided on the rod member 9,
the same effect can be obtained. Plastics such as polypropylene,
polyethylene, nylon and a copolymer of ethylenevinyl acetate are
examples of a material out of which the elastic web 13 is formed. A
pressing portion 15 is fixed to the outer end of the elastic web
13. The pressing portion 15 is slidable with respect to the inner
surface of the rear portion of the rear tubular casing portion
10.
A cap 17 is formed by connecting inner and outer cap members
together by a connecting member. This connecting member is provided
with a lengthwise extending through-bore so that, even if a user
swallows it by mistake, the user is not choked. The purpose of
forming the rear portion of the valve seat 4 conically is to
enhance the assembly of the applicator elements without breaking it
even if the front end portion of the rod member 9 deviates from the
axis of the front tubular casing portion 6.
When a pressing force is applied to the pressing portion with the
applicator elements in the positions shown in FIG. 1, the liquid
chamber 5 is pressurized by web 13, and the rod member 9 advances
to contact the valve body 3 and open the valve means. During this
time, the liquid chamber 5 is in a pressurized state, and the
liquid in the liquid chamber 5 is discharged through the clearance
between the valve body 3 and valve seat 4 into a cylinder 7c of the
support member 7. The liquid further flows through the slits 7a,
which are provided in the circumferential wall of the cylinder 7c,
the outer side of the guide members 7b, the spaces among the ribs
6a, which are provided on the inner surface of the front shaft 6,
and the contact portions of the ribs 6a and to the applicator tip
1. The liquid discharge rate is restricted when the liquid flows
out from the clearance between the valve body 3 and the valve seat
4 into the cylinder 7c of the support member 7, and further
regulated in accordance with the dimensions of the slits 7a and the
length of the guide members 7b.
At the beginning of the use of the liquid discharge apparatus, the
liquid is supplied to the applicator member through the
above-described flow passages. Since liquid discharge slits are
formed in the support member 7, a part in which the liquid being
supplied gathers most, the movement of the liquid does not stop, so
that the liquid is supplied to the applicator tip 1 in a short
period of time. If the liquid storage member 2 is surrounded by a
non-liquid-permeable material, such as a high molecular weight
material film, the liquid storage member 2 can easily be prevented
from absorbing the liquid flowing along the inner surface of the
front tubular casing portion 6. In the case where the pressing
portion 15 is pressed during the use of the apparatus, so that a
quantity of liquid that is not smaller than the quantity needed to
saturate the applicator tip 1 is supplied thereto, the excess
liquid permeates into the liquid storage member 2, which is
provided at the back of the applicator tip 1, owing to the
capillary action of the liquid storage member 2, and leakage of the
liquid does not occur. When the liquid is discharged during use so
that the quantity of the liquid in the applicator tip 1 decreases,
the excess liquid permeating into the liquid storage member 2 is
supplied to the applicator tip 1.
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the invention which is similar
to the above-described embodiment except that this embodiment is
provided with a space, the capacity of which is smaller than the
quantity of liquid needed to saturate the applicator tip 1,
constituted by the ink flow passage in the front tubular casing
portion 6, applicator tip 1 and liquid storage member 2. By the
provision of this space, the liquid is supplied to the applicator
tip 1 more smoothly.
FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the
permeation of the liquid through the elastic web (FIG. 1) is
prevented. A tail plug 18 has a central bore 18a and is inserted
into the rear end portion of a rear tubular casing portion 10. A
rod member 9 is provided with a tapering projection 9a having a
diameter which increases in the rearward direction, and the
projection 9 engages from the rear side a circumferential rib 18b
provided on the inner surface of the central bore 18a to form a
liquid-tight structure, whereby a sealed space 19 is formed within
the elastic web 13. A pressing portion 15 is fixed to the outer end
of the elastic web 13 so that the pressing portion 15 can be moved
with respect to the inner surface of the rear portion of the tail
plug 18. The other parts of this embodiment are substantially
similar to the corresponding parts and elements of the
above-described embodiments of the invention. In the non-use
condition shown in FIG. 10, the liquid in the liquid chamber 5
(FIG. 1) is isolated from the interior 19 of the elastic web 13
owing to the liquid-tight engagement of the projection 9a and
circumferential rib 18b, and the interior of the elastic web 13
forms a sealed space 19. Accordingly, the components of the liquid
do not permeate through the elastic web 13. When a pressing force
is applied to the pressing portion 15 to put the apparatus to
practical use, the rod member 9 advances with its projection 9a
passing over the circumferential rib 18b to open the valve means
and supply the liquid in the liquid chamber 5 to the applicator tip
1.
With reference to FIG. 11, a tapering projection 9a which has a
decreasing diameter toward the rear end portion is provided instead
of the projection in the previous embodiment of the invention. This
tapering projection 9a contacts from the front side a
circumferential rib 18b, which is provided on the inner surface of
a central bore 18a in the front portion of a tail plug, owing to
the resilient force of the elastic web 13 to form a liquid-tight
structure, so that a sealed air space 19 is formed in the elastic
web 13. When this modified example is in a non-use state, the
components of the liquid do not, of course, permeate through the
elastic web 13. Even when this example is in use, a rod member 9
moves back, if the pressing portion 15 is released from the
pressing force applied thereto, due to the resilient force of the
elastic web 13, and the projection 9a and circumferential rib 18b
engage each other to enable a sealed portion 19 to be formed again
in the interior of the elastic web 13. Therefore, the permeation of
the liquid in the liquid chamber 5 through the elastic web 13 can
be reduced.
In a further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 12, a
pressing member 15 is provided in the outer surface of the front
portion thereof with a threaded portion 15a, which is engageable
with a threaded portion 18c of a tail plug 18 fixed to the open
rear end portion of a reef tubular casing portion 10. When these
threaded portions 15a, 18c are disengaged from each other, the
pressing member 15 becomes slidable with respect to the inner
surface of the tail pug 18. When the pressing member 15 and the
tail plug 18 are engaged with each other, an annular rib 15b
provided on a front end flange portion 15c of the pressing member
15 and the front end surface 18d of the tail plug 18 are forcibly
engaged with each other in a liquid-tight condition to form a body
19 of sealed air on the outer side of an elastic web 13. The other
parts of this example are substantially similar to the
corresponding parts of the previously described examples.
An operation of the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 12 will be
described. The pressing member 15 is turned so as to disengage the
pressing member 15 and tail plug 18 from each other. When the
pressing member 15 is then pressed forward, the elastic web 13
contracts, and the pressure in a liquid storage portion 5 increases
to cause a rod member 9 to be displaced forward, and a valve means
be opened. Consequently, the liquid in the liquid chamber 5 is
supplied to the applicator tip 1.
In FIG. 13, the front part of a pressing portion 15 tapers so that
the outer diameter thereof decreases in the rearward direction, and
the outer surface of the pressing portion 15 and the inner surface
of a tail plug 18 are provided with ribs 15a, 18a instead of
threads. When the rib 15a on the pressing portion 15 passes over
and engages the rib 18a on the tail plug 18, a rib, which is very
small and not shown in the drawing, on a tapering part of the
pressing portion 15 and a front portion 18b of the tail plug 18 are
press-fitted to each other in a liquid-tight manner to form a
sealed air space 19. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, it is not
necessary to turn the pressing portion 15 when the apparatus is
used.
Referring to FIG. 14 showing another embodiment of the invention,
an applicator tip 31 is inserted into a front tubular casing
portion 36 so that its front end portion projects from a front end
of the front tubular casing portion 36 and its rear end is inserted
into a concentric front recess 32a of a liquid storage member 32
which is composed of cotton or other desired porous material with a
capillary force (or attraction) smaller than that of the applicator
tip 31. The liquid storage member 32 has a concentric rear recess
32b which is deeper than that of the front recess as illustrated.
Into the rear recess 32b is disposed a valve seat 34 which has a
tube portion 34a and a flange portion 34b, with the tube portion
34a snugly inserted and fitted into the rear recess 32b. The valve
seat 34 has a seat portion 34c on the tube portion 34a, the seat
portion 34c extending radially inwardly from a surface of the tube
portion 34a. The tube portion 34a has a rear end which receives an
end of a spiral spring 38, the other end of which is received by a
rod member 39.
The flange portion 34b of the valve seat 34 is held between a rear
end of the front tubular casing portion 36 and a shoulder or step
portion on an inner wall of a rear tubular casing portion 40. A
valve body 33 has, at its front portion, a forwardly diverging
tapered portion which has a valve portion 33a, and a rod portion
having a connecting portion 33b at the rear end. The valve body 33
is rearwardly spring-biased by the spring 38 so that the valve
portion 33a is resiliently contacted with the seat portion 34c of
the valve seat 4 to thereby form a valve mechanism. The forwardly
diverging portion of the valve body 33 is axially slidably fitted
in the tube portion 34a and, therefore, the valve body 33 is
prevented from being unfavorably displaced in the radial
direction.
At the rear portion of the valve body 33, a rod member 39 is
provided which has a front end connected to the rear end of the
connection portion 33b of the valve body 33. The rod member 39 is
positioned in the rear tubular casing portion 40 which has a liquid
chamber 35. The rod member 39 is connected at its rear end to a
pressing member 44 which has a diameter smaller than the diameter
of the rear tubular portion 40.
The pressing member 44 is disposed concentrically at a rear end of
the rear tubular portion 40 and is formed in a unitary structure
with a thin wall resilient portion 43 having an arc shape in
longitudinal section. By the thin wall resilient portion 43, the
pressing member 44 is movable in the axial direction toward the
applicator tip 31 when the pressing member 44 is pressed.
An end plug 45 having a central bore 45a is press-fitted into the
rear end of the rear tubular casing portion 40. The pressing member
44 is slidably inserted into the central bore 45a and thus the
central bore 45a serves as a guide for movement of the pressing
member 44.
In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the rod member 39 has been described
as fixed to the valve body 33 and pressing member 44, but it will
be appreciated that the rod member 39 may be fixed to either the
valve body 33 or the pressing member 44.
In FIG. 14, reference numeral 47 designates a cap adapted to fit
over a front end of the applicator to protect the applicator tip
41. The cap is designed to be fit over the rear end of the
applicator, when the applicator is in use, so that the cap aids in
pressing the pressing member 44.
An operation will be described. When the pressing member 44 is
pressed inwardly against the resilient force of the spring 38, the
pressing member 44, rod member 39 and valve body 33 are advanced by
the aid of the thin wall resilient portion 43 so that the valve is
opened. At this moment, the liquid chamber 35 is pressurized by the
advance of the pressing member 44, and a liquid in the liquid
chamber 35 is discharged through a gap between the valve portion
33a and the seat portion 34c into the tube portion 34a of the valve
seat 34. The discharged liquid is then fed through a front opening
of the tube portion 34a and to the liquid storage member 32 through
a bottom of the rear recess 32b. Immediately thereafter, the liquid
which is fed into the front portion of the liquid storage member 32
is supplied to the applicator tip 31 before the liquid storage
member 32 is entirely filled with the liquid because the liquid
storage member 32 has a smaller capillary force than the applicator
tip 31 as described above and because the rear recess 32b of the
liquid storage member 32 is covered with the tube portion 34a of
the valve seat 34. Thus, the liquid discharged through the valve is
fed immediately to the applicator tip so that the tip contains the
liquid ready for use. Excessive liquid supplied to the applicator
tip is returned to, and stored in, the liquid storage member 32.
Thus, no leakage of the liquid occurs.
* * * * *